TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati baseball took a big, early lead then worked back to win Saturday's game against Oakland in the bottom of the ninth off an error, winning 9-8.
In an 8-8 game, Jackson Murphy got three quick outs in the top of the inning before the UC bats went to work to win it in regulation. Jake Hansen led off with a single up the middle. Jeremy Johnson then laid down a bunt and reached on a fielder's choice as the Golden Grizzlies were able to nab the lead runner. Jace Mercer then grounded out and Johnson was able to advance on an error. Another ground ball looked to send the game into extra innings, but another throwing error allowed Johnson to run home safely.
// NOTABLES
• In his first start for UC, Hansen went 2-for-4 with a RBI
• Joe Powell had a team-high three RBI with a triple and a walk
• Joey Wiemer had two RBI
• Griffin Merritt had a pinch-hit double with Wyatt Stapp following with a RBI double of his own
• Jeremy Johnson added another triple on the season
• Paul Komistek smashed his second homerun of the year, this one an inside-the-parker
• Murphy got the win after throwing the final 1.2 innings with no runs and no hits with two strikeouts
• Nathan Kroger went 4.2 innings in the start, not giving up any runs until there were two outs in the fifth. He struck out five
• Zach Segal pitched 2.2 frames with three strikeouts and Evan Kemp faced one batter
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
The Bearcats got off to a big start with a 5-0 lead after the first. Mercer, Wiemer and Stapp all walked to load the bases. During the next at-bat, Eric Santiago was able to reach on a catcher's interference, allowing the first run to score. Powell then hit a loud triple to right center to clear the bases. Hansen singled later on to score Powell.
Bottom of the 2nd
UC tacked on another run with a Johnson triple and Wiemer RBI ground out
Bottom of the 4th
Komistek smashed a ball that hit off the top of the fence in right center and remained in the park. Komistek took off and never stopped to score on the inside-the-park homerun
Top of the 5th
Oakland was able to score its first runs of the series with a six-run fifth inning. Three singles loaded the bases with two outs in the inning. A walk scored the first run before a base hit up the middle brought in two more. The next batter hit a homerun to the scoreboard in right field to make it an 7-6 game
Top of the 8th
The Golden Grizzlies tied the game on a walk, sacrifice bunt, and single in the eighth. A bases-loaded walk gave them the lead. With bases still full of Golden Grizzlies, Murphy struck out the next two batters looking to keep it a one-run game
Bottom of the 8th
The Bearcats quickly answered. Merritt pinch hit and led off with a double then made it home when Stapp switched places with another double.
Bottom of the 9th
In the deciding frame, Hansen's single started things off before the Bearcats capitalized on the two errors to earn the walk-off win
// UP NEXT
• The series comes to a close with two seven-inning games on Sunday starting at noon
• UC travels to Kentucky for a midweek contest on Tuesday
• The Bearcats return home to host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series next weekend
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In an 8-8 game, Jackson Murphy got three quick outs in the top of the inning before the UC bats went to work to win it in regulation. Jake Hansen led off with a single up the middle. Jeremy Johnson then laid down a bunt and reached on a fielder's choice as the Golden Grizzlies were able to nab the lead runner. Jace Mercer then grounded out and Johnson was able to advance on an error. Another ground ball looked to send the game into extra innings, but another throwing error allowed Johnson to run home safely.
// NOTABLES
• In his first start for UC, Hansen went 2-for-4 with a RBI
• Joe Powell had a team-high three RBI with a triple and a walk
• Joey Wiemer had two RBI
• Griffin Merritt had a pinch-hit double with Wyatt Stapp following with a RBI double of his own
• Jeremy Johnson added another triple on the season
• Paul Komistek smashed his second homerun of the year, this one an inside-the-parker
• Murphy got the win after throwing the final 1.2 innings with no runs and no hits with two strikeouts
• Nathan Kroger went 4.2 innings in the start, not giving up any runs until there were two outs in the fifth. He struck out five
• Zach Segal pitched 2.2 frames with three strikeouts and Evan Kemp faced one batter
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
The Bearcats got off to a big start with a 5-0 lead after the first. Mercer, Wiemer and Stapp all walked to load the bases. During the next at-bat, Eric Santiago was able to reach on a catcher's interference, allowing the first run to score. Powell then hit a loud triple to right center to clear the bases. Hansen singled later on to score Powell.
Bottom of the 2nd
UC tacked on another run with a Johnson triple and Wiemer RBI ground out
Bottom of the 4th
Komistek smashed a ball that hit off the top of the fence in right center and remained in the park. Komistek took off and never stopped to score on the inside-the-park homerun
Top of the 5th
Oakland was able to score its first runs of the series with a six-run fifth inning. Three singles loaded the bases with two outs in the inning. A walk scored the first run before a base hit up the middle brought in two more. The next batter hit a homerun to the scoreboard in right field to make it an 7-6 game
Top of the 8th
The Golden Grizzlies tied the game on a walk, sacrifice bunt, and single in the eighth. A bases-loaded walk gave them the lead. With bases still full of Golden Grizzlies, Murphy struck out the next two batters looking to keep it a one-run game
Bottom of the 8th
The Bearcats quickly answered. Merritt pinch hit and led off with a double then made it home when Stapp switched places with another double.
Bottom of the 9th
In the deciding frame, Hansen's single started things off before the Bearcats capitalized on the two errors to earn the walk-off win
// UP NEXT
• The series comes to a close with two seven-inning games on Sunday starting at noon
• UC travels to Kentucky for a midweek contest on Tuesday
• The Bearcats return home to host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series next weekend
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.